ENGLISH FOR LIFE
(144 hours of Instruction)
Course Description:
English for Life is a practical, communicative English programme built for adults who are navigating a
new country. It is not a grammar textbook — it is a life toolkit. From booking a doctor’s appointment and
reading a pay stub to making friends, telling your story, and knowing your rights, every lesson teaches
the English that matters most in everyday life.
Designed to be taught by bilingual and multilingual instructors who share their learners’ cultural
backgrounds, this course meets learners where they are — in their language, their community, and
their reality. Communication comes first. Confidence follows.
English for Life is built on the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach: the proven principle
that adults learn language by using it, not by studying rules about it. Every activity, every dialogue, and
every lesson is grounded in real life — the conversations learners will have tomorrow, not hypothetical
grammar exercises.
What Learners Will Be Able to Do
By the end of English for Life, learners will be able to communicate independently in the situations that
matter most in their daily lives:
✓ Greet people, introduce themselves, and handle everyday social exchanges
✓ Use public transport, shop for essentials, and navigate their city
✓ Describe symptoms and communicate confidently with healthcare providers
✓ Call emergency services and handle urgent situations in English
✓ Search for work, attend job interviews, and
understand their rights as workers
✓ Open a bank account, pay bills, and manage financial transactions
✓ Communicate with landlords, schools, and social services
✓ Make friends, engage in small talk, and participate in community life
✓ Tell their own story in English with confidence and pride
✓ Understand their civic rights and responsibilities as residents
Who This Course Is For
✓ Adult immigrants and refugees aged 18 and above ✓ Zero to limited prior English proficiency
✓ Learners from any language background ✓ People who need everyday English, not academic study
✓ Community centres, libraries, and NGOs ✓ Bilingual and multilingual community educators
✓ Refugee resettlement programmes ✓ Workplace English programmes for new arrivals
This course does not require instructors to be trained teachers or native English speakers. It is
specifically designed to be taught by bilingual community members who share their learners’
cultural and linguistic backgrounds — your lived experience is your greatest asset.
What’s Included in the Full Programme
English for Life is a complete, ready-to-deliver programme. Every document needed to train instructors,
teach learners, track progress, and certify achievement is included in the full suite.
Document What It Contains
Instructor Course Manual 48 fully developed lesson plans, model dialogues, cultural notes, activity
instructions, and module-by-module teaching guidance for all 6 modules.
Learner Workbook Self-study exercises for every lesson across all 6 modules — vocabulary
practice, dialogue completion, and guided writing tasks with built-in answer
keys.
Instructor Training Manual 15 units covering communicative teaching methodology, trauma-informed
practice, cultural sensitivity, assessment strategies, and lesson planning.
3-Day Instructor Workshop
Guide
Complete facilitated training programme with 12 session plans, 17 named
activities (including micro-teaching), learner profile cards, and feedback
forms.
Assessment Tools 7 photocopiable instruments: can-do checklists, oral assessment rubrics,
self-assessment cards, lesson observation logs, portfolio records, and
class progress trackers.
Certificates of Completion Three print-ready landscape certificates (Completion, Participation, and
Instructor Training) plus a printing and ceremony guide.
Our Teaching Philosophy
Communication First
Making yourself understood is the goal — not grammatical perfection. Every lesson is built around real conversations, not textbook drills.
Dignity and Respect
Every learner is a complete human being whose worth precedes their English proficiency. The programme affirms this at every step.
Trauma-Informed
Many learners carry experiences of conflict and displacement. The programme is psychologically safe, predictable, and connected to community support.
Culturally Responsive
Language and culture are inseparable. We teach cultural communication norms with respect for the rich cultural knowledge learners already hold.
The Home Language as a Bridge
Bilingual instructors use the learner’s home language strategically — as a bridge to English, never as a barrier to it.
Assessment as Empowerment
No pass/fail tests. Progress is tracked through what learners can do, celebrated with self-assessment
tools, and recognised with a certificate.
“Sawubona — I see you. English for Life was created in the belief that every adult, regardless of where they come from or how long they have been in their new country, deserves the tools to communicate, connect, and thrive. English to the World. The World to English.
Language has no borders. Communication builds bridges.
English to the World. The World to English.